The audience fell silent. Even those audience members hired by Javier to fill the seats were affected by Sean's speech that explained the ordeal faced by Nina. In the end, they cast disdainful and acrimonious looks at Sophia.Once again, Alyssa was brought back to the scene of Nina's brutal death. Feeling heartbroken, she covered her ears with her hands and shut her eyes tightly, feeling like she was in an enclosed space. Sweat dotted her forehead as she struggled to breathe."Lyse, don't think about it. I'm here for you," Jasper comforted her and pulled her into a hug. He guided her to rest her forehead on his shoulder.Although Nina wasn't Alyssa's family, Alyssa's kind soul was irreparably scarred and traumatized after witnessing Nina's death."Jasper… I feel like I'm at fault," she sobbed and whispered in his ear.Her words nearly broke his heart. Tearing up, he consoled her, "Don't say that. Lyse, you're not at fault. The two people in the dock are the sinners."After Sean d
Without Sophia's strategies, Betty could not survive, like a parasite who had left its host.Meanwhile, Sophia and Jeffrey were attacking each other in court, bringing Javier so much shame that he wanted to leave the scene.After the plaintiff and the defendant delivered their opening statements, the trial entered the most crucial round of witness examination and questioning.It was Simon's time to spring into action. Chuckling, he stretched and stood up relaxedly. "Mr. Snyder, you claimed that the defendant paid you off to get rid of Ms. Carle, but there's no evidence to back up your claim. I have a reason to suspect that you're lying and framing my client to get away from your crime.""I did not lie! I told the truth. I never had any exchange with the maid at all. Why would I kill her for no reason?" Jeffrey nervously defended himself.Sean fixed a stern gaze on Simon's animated face and silently clenched his fist. The secret recordings by Nina were in Sean's possession. She had
Sean had kept his silence during Simon's animated cross-examination, which made him appear like he was at a disadvantage.Seated in the public gallery, Tatiana felt her heart leaping into her throat. Her eyes were sore from focusing on Sean throughout the proceeding.Worried about Sean, she hated that she couldn't be of help to him. All she could do was to silently cheer him on."We'll pass the floor to the plaintiff's defense," Steven announced and gave Sean a look of affirmation.The Lynch brothers rarely interacted with each other as adults. They were not as close as other siblings, and on top of that, they were active in different professional fields. Still, Steven and Sean were at least upright, never once acting against their principles compared to the corrupted Simon.Meanwhile, Simon had always looked down on Sean and repeatedly described Steven as a strait-laced, puritanical goody-two-shoes. Simon perceived himself as the pillar of the family, staunchly believing that he,
"Of course, Your Honor." Sean regained his composure and cast a loaded look at Alyssa and Jasper's direction.The couple gave him a stern nod, after which he proceeded to land a sharp gaze on Sophia, "Sophia Kirkman, you claim that you have never committed murder. I will repeat my question to you. Are you telling the truth? This is your last chance at coming clean."Simon nearly burst out laughing at Sean's crude tactics. He glanced disdainfully at his silly brother, thinking, "Sean, you are too inexperienced to take me down. How dare you think of winning against me in court by asking that stupid question? Only a fool would admit to murder.""No! I can't even hurt a fly. I would never murder a human being," Sophia confirmed while her mind whirled. Thinking back about the past, she had always instructed others to do the dirty work for her. Given her stature, she would never dirty her hands. Therefore, she announced confidently, "Ask me as many times as you want. My answer remains t
Sophia's mind raced as she tried to come up with a strategy. In the end, she came to a conclusion. It had been 20 years since the incident, and 20 years had already passed. So what if Tessa was here to give her statement? She hadn't witnessed the entire incident with her own eyes. All the evidence was also long gone. The thought of that made Sophia feel more at ease. She straightened her back slowly. Javier stared at Tessa in surprise. For a number of years, Tessa attended closely to his beloved Anne. Despite that, he couldn't recall who she was. Alyssa's heart was pounding. The pace of her breathing had become uneven. Fortunately, she had Jasper by her side. He had his arm around her waist. He comforted her in silence. It helped her calm her racing heart. She wasn't the type of person to lose her patience. This time, however, was different. This was something related to the person she loved the most. It was a crucial fight. This deep-seated hatred had been building up
There was an uproar in the courtroom. This took the entire nation by surprise! In an instant, all the blood had drained from Javier's face. He felt as if his seat had been set ablaze. Without a care for anything else, he shot to his feet. He looked at Sophia in disbelief. Anne… Didn't she commit suicide because she had severe depression? Why had it become a homicide? How could Sophia be the murderer? She was the woman with whom he had shared the same bed for 20 years! "I… I didn't… It wasn't me!" Sophia met Javier's gaze. She shook her head while crying. Jasper diverted his cold gaze toward Javier slowly. He noticed that Javier's face was as pale as a sheet. Deep down, Jasper was full of bitterness and resentment. He couldn't help but let out a piercingly cold sneer. Javier was a frigid man. Until now, Jasper had never seen him express any heartbrokenness over Anne. But, more than that, he felt doubtful. Javier wasn't feeling disturbed because of his love for Sophia. He w
Jasper had heard Tessa's testimony many times in private. Even so, the pain in his heart was just as piercing as when he heard it for the first time. "Fentanyl is a type of analgesic. Its usage is banned in the country. Even a slight overdose could cause death." Tears of hatred welled up in Alyssa's eyes, which had already turned red. She had a mother, too. She could completely empathize with Jasper's pain. Everyone present in court was staggered. The attendees in the public gallery began to chatter among themselves. Simultaneously, the live broadcast was being streamed on the court's official website. The livestream page was also filled with a stream of comments. From the commencement of the hearing until now, the court's official website witnessed an unprecedented surge in viewership, reshares, and comments."Sophia was also involved in a homicide? Is she the wife of a plutocrat, or is she the devil?""So, Jasper isn't an illegitimate child! Sophia married into the Becket
Tessa conveyed everything that she knew. She had just let out her anguish and frustration, which she had suppressed for 20 years. After that, she slumped back into the chair. She was drenched in sweat. At this moment, she felt guilty. She regretted it from the bottom of her heart. She hated herself for being 20 years late in revealing the truth.If only she hadn't been so greedy at the time. If only she could've been brave enough to withstand Sophia's threats and testify that she had murdered Anne. If so, Anne could've rested in peace. As for herself, she wouldn't have had to be away from home and suffer for 20 years. She was really foolish back then. Sophia was just Javier's mistress at that time. Why did she have to fear such a lowly woman? If Javier and Anne reconciled, there was no way that Sophia would've become Javier's wife. She wouldn't even have remained in the Beckett family. Sophia might have been carrying Javier's child, but she would've ended up having to leave.
When Axel heard the news, he immediately returned to the city where his organization was based. Without even reporting back to work, he booked the earliest red-eye flight to Cyrris. His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, and when he emerged from the arrival gates, an ominous air surrounded him. A black luxury car awaited him at the exit.Standing in front of the car were Jasper and Xavier, who had been waiting anxiously for his arrival.Axel's gaze locked onto Jasper's fiery eyes. His presence radiated fury, unrestraint, and a barely contained viciousness. A strong gust of wind swept through the terminal. Snow danced in the air, tangling both Jasper's and Axel's hair into disarray."Let's talk in the car, Axel," Jasper said in a low, measured voice.Red-eyed, Axel insisted, "I need to find my wife right now." "That's exactly why I'm here. Get in the car, and we'll talk." Jasper turned on his heel. His tone grew colder. "But let's be honest—you won't find her no matter ho
Jasper wanted to console Alyssa but found himself at a loss for words. So, he remained silent. "Disappointed, aren't you?" Alyssa sniffled as she smiled bitterly."Not at all." Perhaps he had been expecting too much. As a woman, she was intelligent, capable, and a strategist for victory. Beyond that, she boldly stepped forward to fight against the dark forces. She was strong and perfect as she was—why should he expect her to be anything more?Yet, seeing Alyssa's vulnerable side unsettled him. Something tugged at his heartstrings, a deep ache he couldn't ignore."I found it! I found Ms. Altman's cell phone!" With more manpower and better visibility as the sun rose, it didn't take long to locate Amber's bloodied phone. "Ambs…"Alyssa's face drained of color as terror gripped her at the sight of the bloodstained device. Jasper, on the other hand, remained composed. He tried powering on the phone, and to their surprise, it turned on. "What's the password?" Jasper asked g
"Five times more potent than the previous version? Are you sure it's safe for Remy to consume this?" Sheryl picked up the pill, unease flickering across her face. As much as she despised Remy, she couldn't deny his prowess as a fighter and his value as Justin's right-hand man. Having him around would certainly ease Justin's workload, prompting her to double-check."It won't kill him, but it won't be pleasant either. Don't worry—it's temporary," Justin replied, a sinister smile curling his lips. He continued nonchalantly, "When he takes the pill, his adrenaline will spike, flooding him with energy while his muscles tense. He'll feel both pain and euphoria. Then, it will fade, leaving him dependent on the drug moving forward." The implication was clear to Sheryl. Justin intended to control Remy through addiction. "Remy wasn't born for the shadows," Justin continued, his gaze darkened. "He's just a victim of post-traumatic amnesia, his nervous system subdued with sedatives and anes
"Got it, Mr. Harper!" Harper Group's subordinates acknowledged before swiftly dispersing. "I'm going to search for Amber too," Alyssa said, turning to leave.Jasper caught her arm. "It's freezing. Go wait in the car." Landon chimed in, "Lyse, listen to Jasper. Just wait in the car. We'll search for Amber.""No—I have to come too!" Alyssa sniffled. The sharp wind stung her face, leaving her nose raw and crimson, her eyes watering until they puffed into tender, swollen crescents. "Amber's in trouble because of me. I was careless—it's all my fault!""Lyse…" Landon's heart sank at her remorseful expression.Jasper's gaze softened as he studied Alyssa's pale face. "Her disappearance isn't your fault."Tears welled in Alyssa's eyes as she shook her head. "Amber means everything to Axel. If anything happens to her, I won't be able to face him. I don't deserve to be his sister. Please, let me come with you."Jasper and Landon failed to dissuade her. Reluctantly, they agreed. Alyssa
After studying Sheryl for a moment, Remy turned and left."M-Ms. Gillis, are you okay?" One of Sheryl's subordinates came forward to help her up."Useless bastard! Why didn't you step in when he hit me earlier?" Sheryl's voice trembled with fury as her gaze fell on the crimson stains marring the pristine snow.Stammering, the subordinate replied, "R-Remy acted too quickly. Everyone in the organization knows how good of a fighter he is. None of us stood a chance against him!""S-Something wasn't right about him tonight." Sheryl watched Remy's retreating figure disappear into the distance, her voice dropping to a menacing murmur. "I need to report this to Mr. Justin in person immediately."Inside his car, Remy gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands but made no move to drive.Closing his eyes, he felt a suffocating sensation rise in his throat, as though he were drowning in an endless, hopeless sea. He was just a speck, sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss.A shar
With a piercing gaze, Sheryl glared at Remy, who stood in front of her car with an air of frigidity around him. The temptation to ram her car into the crestfallen man was almost irresistible, but she didn't dare. Remy was Justin's right-hand man, and even her audacity had limits. Instead, Sheryl pulled her white coat snugly around her, stepped out of the car with feigned composure, and strode toward him. Hostility crackled between them as their eyes locked.Sheryl broke the silence. "Remy, is there nothing you'd like to update me about?" she asked with a sinister look in her eyes. Stiffly, Remy asked, "Where did you take that woman?" "How shameless of you to question me. Mr. Justin was wise to send me as backup. Otherwise, Amber would have escaped without a trace!"Gritting her teeth, Sheryl took a step closer to Remy. "Is this how you handle tasks entrusted by Mr. Justin? The unstoppable Remy, brought to his knees by a wild brat? Or did you let her go intentionally? Are yo
"Jameson and Carl have been eliminated. Who else could be targeting Amber?"A sharp glint flashed in Jasper's eyes as a thought struck him. "Could it be Justin or Sheryl?" he asked, his voice low and tense.He recalled seeing Justin in the living room earlier that evening, wide awake instead of resting. Was Justin waiting for something? Or perhaps, provoking him in subtle defiance?"They are the only ones I can think of with a grudge against Amber." Alyssa's anxiousness made her voice tremble. "Having worked for Jameson for years, Amber must have visited Mosgravia multiple times to meet with Sir—who is, in fact, Justin. "Justin wouldn't have met anyone else besides Jameson. But how could he leave no trace after all those interactions? Amber must have figured out his true identity. And Justin—he must have realized who she is, even with her changed appearance."Jasper's expression darkened. "So he decided to eliminate her as a precaution."Tears welled in Alyssa's eyes, threaten
Searching for Amber without direction would be pointless. Jasper made a swift decision to bring Alyssa back to the manor, shielding her from the relentless chill of the wind. Once inside, he immediately began organizing the search. He deployed his men and contacted Landon, requesting additional support.The two of them sat together on the couch.This time, there was no space between them. It was as though an invisible force drew them closer, their proximity feeling natural yet electric. Neither could say who had moved first.Alyssa, however, was in no mood to dwell on their closeness. Wrapped in her down jacket, she curled up on the couch, her arms hugging herself tightly. A quiet frostiness emanated from her as she sat in silence, listening to Jasper's calm and methodical calls to mobilize his team.In the past, his composed presence would have been enough to ease her mind. But now, her thoughts were a tangled mess, each one like a razor claw tearing at her heart. The pain was u
"Ms. Gillis, I've searched her thoroughly. She doesn't have anything on her." Sheryl's brows knitted in frustration. "How can that be? Where's her cell phone?" "There wasn't one." Sheryl, no longer concerned about dirtying herself, stepped forward, grabbed Amber by her hair, and forced her to meet her gaze."You bitch," Sheryl snarled. "You came to The Millennium at this hour for a reason. What did you find? Hand it over, and I might spare your worthless life!"Amber spat a mouthful of bloody saliva directly onto Sheryl's face."Fuck! You bitch!" Glaring at Amber, Sheryl rolled her sleeves up and slapped her twice in the face. Even so, it wasn't enough to quench her fury. She yelled, "Take her back!" Two of Sheryl's subordinates moved forward, dragging a limp Amber away. Sheryl's reddened eyes burned with fury as she wiped the spit off her face. She was teetering on the edge of madness."Search the area! Retrace her steps and leave no stone unturned!"…Jasper drove to